The Al-Masmak or Nyoka Mk2 is an APC armoured vehicle personnel carrier in the category of MRAP family. The vehicle is designed and manufactured by the SAUDI GROUPS based in Saudi Arabia. In 2011, SAUDI GROUPS has unveiled its Mines Resistant Armored Personnel Carrier (MRAPC) called AL-MASMAK. SAUDI GROUPS is a private Saudi Arabian company specialized on military and security systems that produces AL-KASER, AL-MANSOUR, AL-NAIF and AL-FAISAL armored personnel carriers (APC) in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia as well as other GCCC and Middle Eastern Countries with more than 300 APC's currently in use by government entities. At AAD 2012, Africa Aerospace and Defence exhibition, the Masmak was presented for the first time to the public for African market under the name “Nyoka Mk2”. During an interview made by Army Recognition at AAD 2012, Mister Mohammed Al-Mutairy, President and CEO of Saudi Groups unveils the secret of the design and the performances of the Al-Masmak. There are several types of similar vehicles in the market but the Al-Masmak offers a higher level of protection, and the vehicle has been designed based on the experience from the military and security users deployed on combat area as Afghanistan and Iraq. The Al-Masmak is a response about the new threats with a ballistic protection not only against the standard AK-47 ammunitions 7.62x39 mm but also against the 7.62x54 mm caliber used by the Russian sniper rifle Dragunov or the Russian 7.62x63 mm ammunitions. The al-Masmak is designed to be used basically as armoured vehicle personnel carrier but the vehicle can be adapted for a variety of roles. With a maximum payload of 2,000 kg, the vehicle is able to perform missions as armoured personnel carrier, battlefield ambulance, command vehicle and weapon platform up to a caliber of 25mm. According to Mister Mohammed Al-Mutairy three countries of the Middle East are showing interest for the vehicle.

The Al-Masmak is equipped with a state of the art complete protected turret mounted at the top of front hull, armed with a 12.7mm or 7.62mm machine gun including day and night aiming capabilities as well as 4 smoke grenade launchers mounted to the left side of the turret. The vehicle can be also armed with a 40mm automatic grenade launcher or a remote weapon station armed with weapons up to a 25mm caliber

Design and protection

The layout of the Masmak is similar to standard APC with the engine at the front, crew are in the middle and soldiers compartment at the rear. The driver and the commander seats are on the front of the vehicle, and eight troops are carried in the rear compartment, one seated back of the driver, one in the turret, three seated on the left side and three seated on the right side of the hull, on individual seats with a full harness seat belt. The Al-Masmak is based on a monocoque hull design to increase protection against mine blast. Two large bulletproof windows are provide for the front and four small bulletproof windows on each side of the troops compartment with one individual firing port at the lower part and these provide the same degree of protection as the steel hull. The infantrymen enter and leave the Al-Masmak via a double door in the rear of the hull, which opens outwards. One single hatch is available at the rear of the top soldier’s compartment. AL-MASMAK is the first worldwide 4X4 armored personnel carrier tested (In South Africa and Saudi Arabia) up to STANAG 4569 level 4A & 4B mines resistant levels (double anti-tank mine -14 kg of TNT under the hull), (triple anti-tank mine - 21 kg of TNT under any wheel), (50 kg of TNT at 5m all-around of the vehicle) and all around ballistics protection up to STANAG 4569 level 3 (7.62 54mm API 890 m/s and 7.62 63mm AP 830 m/s). The vehicle can defeat firing of small arms 12.7mm caliber all-around.

Propulsion

AL-MASMAK is motorized with a very powerful 450 HP diesel engine with a high torque of 1695 N.M and a governed speed of 2200 RPM. The vehicle is equipped with a full automatic gearbox with The Al-Masmak MRAP can reach a maximum road speed of 150 km/h and 39 HP/Ton power to weight ratio with a maximum cruising range of 700 km which can be extended to 1,200 km. AL-MASMAK capabilities include excellent maneuverability and grade ability up to 70% in forward and 60% on reverse and a 420mm ground clearance as well as up to 1 meter water fording.